diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/parser/scanner2/Scanner2.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/parser/scanner2/Scanner2.java
index 47dadcc1782..25b33f2f565 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/parser/scanner2/Scanner2.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/parser/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/core/parser/scanner2/Scanner2.java
@@ -661,7 +661,7 @@ public class Scanner2 implements IScanner, IScannerData {
 				
 				case ':':
 					if (pos + 1 < limit) {
-						if (buffer[pos + 1] == ':') {
+						if (buffer[pos + 1] == ':' && getLanguage() == ParserLanguage.CPP ) {
 							++bufferPos[bufferStackPos];
 							return newToken(IToken.tCOLONCOLON );
 						}